Test and Clean Program Related to the World Trade Center Collapse

1
Test and Clean Program Related to the World Trade
Center Collapse

• EPA Office of Research and Development and Region
  2
• WTC Expert Technical Review Panel Meeting
• December 13, 2005

2
WTC Options Identified in the June 30, 2005 Draft
Final Sampling Plan

• with validated WTC signature
• without validated WTC signature

3
Final Plan

• The peer reviewers of the WTC Signature Study
  agreed that, from the data provided, the
  proposed analytical method has not demonstrated
  the utility of slag wool as a successful WTC
  signature constituent, nor was it able to
  distinguish between impacted and background
  locations.
• Based on the results of this peer review, we
  plan to move forward with second approach
  outlined in the June sampling plan.
• The final Test and Clean Program plan posted
  on the web site provides details on
  implementation.

4
Final Plan

• Voluntary Test and Clean Program for
  residential and commercial areas in lower
  Manhattan south and west of Canal, Allen and Pike
  Streets (same area as 2002-3 program).
• Limited to 7M in remaining FEMA funding

5

• The Sampling Area is shaded and is identical with
  area where clean and test services were provided
  in
• 2002-3.
• The red area corresponds to the EPIC area of
  confirmed dust.

6
Eligibility

• A two-month period will be designated whereby
  volunteers can seek to have their unit and/or
  building tested.
• Residents can request testing of their individual
  apartments.
• Building owners or their representatives can
  request testing of common and other areas under
  their control and HVACs.
• Workers and employers can seek workplace
  evaluation through OSHA and NIOSH channels.

7
Sampling Locations
Accessible areas are defined as areas in which
exposures readily occur including soft surfaces
such as rugs and upholstered furniture, and
hard surfaces such as doorknobs, walls and
table tops. Three or more samples collected in
each residence or common area. Infrequently
accessed areas are defined as areas in which
dust may accumulate but which cause exposure
infrequently such as on top of bookshelves, on
top of refrigerators, chests of drawers or other
tall objects. Three or more samples collected in
each residence or common area. Inaccessible
areas are defined as areas in which dust may
accumulate but which cause exposure rarely such
as behind dishwashers or other large rarely moved
objects. One composite sample will be
taken. Air samples collected in apartments and
common areas. Three or more samples taken in
each residence or common area.
8
Sampling Locations- continued

• HVAC Samples
• Outdoor air inlets to HVAC 1 composite per
  building
• Air mixing plenums or other spots where dust is
  likely to accumulate 1 composite sample per
  floor
• HVAC outlets discharging to areas where
  contaminants of potential concern (COPC) are
  sampled 1 composite sample per floor
• HVAC filters 1 composite bulk sample per
  building

9
Building Characterization

• Descriptive information
• Age, type, cleaning and renovation history since
  9/11, building construction, and similar
  information within units sampled
• Attribution information
• COPC sources within unit (e.g., smokers,
  fireplace), within building (e.g., asbestos or
  MMVF insulation, lead based paint) or near
  building (fryer exhaust)
• HVAC information
• Cleaning and filter replacement history, filters
  and other cleaning devices in system.

10
Contaminants of Potential Concern

• Asbestos and MMVF sampled in air using modified
  aggressive sampling approach.
• Accessible and infrequently accessed areas
  will be sampled by both wipe (lead and PAH) and
  microvac (asbestos, MMVF).
• All four COPC sampled in inaccessible areas and
  HVACs by HEPA vacuum for potential contaminant
  reservoir identification.
• Different benchmarks for accessible and
  infrequently accessed will be used.

11
Cleanup Benchmarks
Accessible, Infrequently accessed, and Air
sampling
12
Cleanup Decision Criteria

• Residence
• Cleanup will be offered if COPC exceeds cleanup
  benchmark in one dust or air sample.
• Inaccessible samples will not be used for
  cleanup decisions, but rather to evaluate the
  potential for these areas being potential sources
  of contamination, and to correlate with dust/air
  samples.

13
Cleanup Decision Criteria

• Building
• Cleanup of individual common areas will be
  offered if COPC exceeds cleanup benchmark in one
  dust or air sample.
• HVAC HEPA samples will not be used for cleanup
  decisions, but rather to evaluate the potential
  for these areas being potential sources of
  contamination, and to correlate with dust/air
  samples.
• HVAC cleaning will be offered if 95 Upper
  Confidence Level on the mean of all samples in
  common areas exceed a cleanup benchmark.

14
Clearance Criteria

• Dust or air sampling will be repeated after
  cleaning for any COPC that exceeds a benchmark.
• Retesting will not occur if building survey
  documents a source other than WTC.

15
Next Steps

• EPA/FEMA IAG will be finalized, allowing the use
  of the 7 million dollars for this program.
• Based on IAG, contractors will be secured as
  quickly as possible to implement plan with EPA
  oversight.
• Region 2 is developing a recruitment strategy to
  advertise and maximize participation in the
  program. We encourage the public to suggest
  ideas for recruiting participants.
• Field work could begin as early as Spring 2006.